Dis 'n' Dat

Knitting
Thanks for the reassurances about Chrissy and the mysterious fluctuating All Seasons Cotton. It's good to know I wasn't imagining it.

I've barely done any knitting since my last post. I do a few more millimetres on the off-blog project from time to time, but that's about it. I'm reluctant to start anything because I'm going to Woolfest on Saturday and there's not much point in starting something today if I'm only going to cast it aside on Sunday in a frenzy of excitement with my loot. I'm catching the Scottish Fibres bus at an ungodly hour on Saturday along with a couple of dozen other people, and we shall be making our way through the early morning light down to Cockermouth in Cumbria, singing knitting songs and waulking the tweed. Well, perhaps not, but something like that.

Given my limited mobility, I'm not sure how much I'll be able to do, but I think it'll be worth it to soak up the atmosphere and see all the wool-stoned faces. Spinning Fishwife assures me that there are lots of seats in the Centre, which should facilitate rests interspersed with short lunges at the merchandise. I got very organised about 3 weeks ago and ordered some Ravelry badges. Can I find them now? Can I b*gg*ry. **

Although I don't usually eat much during the day, I've become convinced that I will be starving - being trapped on a mode of transport can do that to a body - and anyway I don't want to waste my short amount of standing power by standing in queues for food and coffee, so my list of proposed sandwiches, snacks and beverages is getting very long. Between that and my collapsible chair in case of emergency, I suspect that the bus driver may be reluctant to let me aboard with my collection of mysterious bags.

New Book
Lynne Barr, who wrote the fabulous Knitting New Scarves has got a new book coming out, called Reversible Knitting.


It's due out in the U.S. in October, and Amazon U.K. shows the same date. The bumf says:

Most of the stitch dictionaries on knitters’ shelves are remixes of familiar stitch patterns already published elsewhere. Not so for Lynne Barr’s groundbreaking book Reversible Knitting. Not only is every one of the 50 stitch patterns completely new and never before seen, but each is also reversible—for a total of 100 different looks!

Reversible stitch patterns can be used to create projects where either side can be worn facing outward, or where two sides of the piece are visible simultaneously (such as a scarf or a garment with collar or cuffs that that can be worn up or down). In addition to stitch patterns, the book features 20 such projects—from accessories like scarves, hats, and socks to sweaters and dresses—designed by the author and by 12 top knitwear designers including STC authors Véronik Avery, Norah Gaughan, and Teva Durham. Rounding out the book are in-depth instructions for the specialized techniques required for reversible work.

The cardi on the cover looks like a Norah Gaughan design, doesn't it? One of her may-be-worn-upside-down designs. I can't wait. In fact, I've pre-ordered it.

Movies
I watched a Norwegian/Swedish film called Kitchen Stories tonight. It's wonderful. After World War II, the Swedes carried out research on the most efficient use of kitchens, which is a laudable enough idea and I expect we've all benefited from it, but it was carried out by sending inspectors to sit in kitchens on very high chairs, like tennis umpires, and observe the occupants.


They were forbidden to interfere in the work of the kitchen, and indeed weren't permitted to join in at meals or even to have a cup of coffee. The film examines what might have happened when the inspectors found themselves observing in remote parts of Norway, where their presence wasn't welcome and reminds us that human beings like to communicate even in the least promising circumstances.

I think I would have got more out of it if I spoke Norwegian or Swedish as I'm sure there are a lot of in-jokes which escape the sub-titles, or even if I knew a little more of their history than I do, but I thought it was delightful and I want to watch it again some day.

** Found them! At 00.09 on Saturday morning.